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Bombing in Israel wounds two guards

A Palestinian bomber has blown himself up outside an Israeli bus station during the morning rush hour, critically wounding two guards, increasing tensions between Israel and the Palestinians in the wake of Israel's Gaza Strip withdrawal.

28 Aug 2005 21:38 GMT

Israeli forensic police officers collect evidence at the blast site

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the Sunday attack as terrorism, The Associated Press reported. Israeli media said that in addition to the two guards, 46 people were treated for shock.

The bombing was the most serious Palestinian attack since Israel removed settlers from Gaza and part of the West Bank last week, but Palestinians linked the bombing to Israel's deadly raid in a West Bank refugee camp last week.

Attack claimed

The Palestinian groups Al-Aqsa Al-Martyrs Brigades linked to Fatah and Al-Quds Brigades of Islamic Jihad jointly claimed the bombing in an anonymous telephone call to AFP.

"This attack was carried out in the name of Al-Aqsa and Al-Quds Brigades by Alaa Zaakik, 25, from Beit Omar," which is between Bethlehem and Hebron in the West Bank, the caller said.

Israeli media reported that the bomber came from the southern Hebron hills, the section of the West Bank across from Beersheba. After a double suicide bombing killed 16 in the city a year ago, work on a separation barrier along the West Bank in that area was to be speeded up, but the line there remains largely unfortified.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the attack

Abbas denounced the bombing as a "terror attack" and called on Israel to show restraint, The Associated Press reported. "We condemn such attacks. We don't accept them, and we call on everyone to refrain from retaliation," he said.

In a statement, the official WAFA news agency quoted Abbas as linking the bombing to Israel's arrest raid in the Tulkarem refugee camp last week, killing five Palestinians.

Abbas said a February truce must be maintained "despite all the Israeli provocations."

Israel demanded action from Abbas.

"Israel has taken the necessary steps to further the prospects of peace with the Palestinians," said David Baker, an official in Sharon's office. "This bombing ... is another indication that the Palestinian Authority must take proper steps against terror, and without these steps, there will be no progress between both sides."

Guards halt bomber

Sunday's explosion was in a dirt parking lot about 100 meters from the bus station, which was crowded with morning rush hour travelers. Witnesses said two security guards halted the bomber, preventing a larger attack.

The guards were critically injured.

An Israeli bus driver (C) tries to regain composure after the bomb

Taxi driver Itzik Ohana said he was waiting for customers in the lot when he saw the bomber, a man about 20, who had short hair and was dragging a heavy bag and sweating. The man frequently stopped to put the bag down and rest.

Ohana said he told a security guard about the suspicious-looking man and called the police. "While I was talking to the police there was an explosion," he said.

The bomber was killed.

After the attack, police raised the alert level across the country.

During Sunday's Cabinet meeting, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said the West Bank is becoming the focus for Israel's war against militants. He said Israel has made it clear that the Palestinians must fulfill their pledges to act against violent groups.

Gaza pullout

Despite the bombing, Israel pushed ahead with arrangements to complete its pullout from Gaza.

Israel's Cabinet approved an agreement with Egypt to post 750 Egyptian border guards along the frontier between Gaza and Egypt. Israel's parliament votes on the accord on Wednesday.

Palestinians wait for relatives to cross from Egypt at Rafah (file)

Israel has been patrolling the border, trying to prevent Palestinians from smuggling weapons and other contraband through tunnels under the border into Gaza. Deployment of the Egyptian force would allow for an Israeli pullout, expected by the end of the year.

Also on Sunday, Israel began transferring 48 graves from now-empty Gaza settlements to Israel. All the graves were to be moved by the end of the week, the army said.

"This is very difficult for us," said Rivka Vinter as she escorted the body of her late husband, Nehemia, who drowned in the Mediterranean 10 years ago, to his reburial at a new cemetery the military built in Nitzan, a new community to house some of the settlers evacuated from Gaza.

"Suddenly we have a rerun of the funeral. It is surreal and I don't know how we will get through this," she told Israel Radio.